Leviticus 11:46 (KJV)

What does Leviticus 11:46 mean?

Leviticus 11:46 marks the close of a set of instructions about animals. It identifies the kinds of creatures covered by the rules given to the Israelites, including land animals, birds, water creatures, and creatures that move along the ground.

The verse is part of the instructions the Lord gives Moses and Aaron to pass on to the Israelites (Leviticus 11:1–2). The list gathers the many examples in the chapter into broad groups. The following verse states the purpose of the distinction: to separate creatures that may be eaten from those that may not.

The Hebrew behind Leviticus 11:46

• “law” — תּוֹרָה (torah): This word often means instruction or teaching. Here it identifies the preceding material as a body of guidance, not merely a list of animals.
• “creature” — נֶפֶשׁ (nephesh): This word can refer to a living being. In “every living creature that moveth in the waters,” it refers to living creatures generally, rather than to one particular kind of fish.

Why Leviticus 11:46 matters

• The verse shows the breadth of the food instructions. Its list includes animals of the land, sky, and water, so the reader can see how the chapter’s examples fit together.
• The distinction in the passage concerns more than familiar farm animals. Verse 46 also names “every creature that creepeth upon the earth,” while verse 47 connects the instructions to what may and may not be eaten.
• “Law” points back to the details already given. The shorter list in verse 46 serves as a closing statement, not as a replacement for the earlier descriptions of particular creatures.